Composite mattress



w. A. WITHERS 'courogna MATTRESS. YPiumino-f. 1o. 192s I 2 sheets-snaai 1 'Y Oct.' s', 1929.

udhm. Mlwmnum -NNAMHIHHMIHH .muuu IHHHNIM. MHUNHU H z MT H M Z V w04 ...uae J/ f w d J V Och 8, 192.9- w. A. WITHERS COMPOSITE MATTRESS Filed Nov. 1o, 192e 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented ct. 8, 1929 WILLIAM A. WITHERS, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIGNOR TO AIRURBER CORPORATION OF timeline@l ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS COMPOSITE MATTRESS Application led November 1G, 1926. Serial No. 147,416. l

The invention relates tol improvements in p composite mattresses and has particular reference to mattresses of the type in which the resiliency of the same is mainly secured by vao the use of fluid filled cells or compartments.

In mattresses Of the particular type described, 'diiiiculty has been experienced by reason of the fact that a flexible envelopewhen chargedl with fluid such as air tends to expand into the form of a sphere. In the case of pneumatic mattresses, such tendency has been corrected bythe use of ties of various kinds extending from top to bottom of the mattress, or recourse has been had to a structure made with a plurality of compartments therein. However, even with the best types of construction, the Outside of such a pneumatic mattress obviously takes the cross sectional form of a semicircle.` Although the semi circle shape of the edge of the mattress is not of serious import where the mattress is to be used for camping or other temporary purposes' serious Objection has been made to this roun ed appearance where the mattress is to be used for home.

Also, in view of the fact that one of the rincipal virtures of a pneumatic mattress is its capacity to support its load at an even pressure, (in pounds per square inch wherever contact is established,) it is desirable that all of the cells or compartments of the mattress should commmuncate with each other so that the pressure may be uniform throughout the entire area of the supporting surface. Or, at any rate, for this reason the number of compartments should be kept at a minimum. Under lthis condition, the mattress is highely eiiicient as a piece of sleepin equipment, but if one attempts to sit upon t e same or upon general use on bedsteads in the p the edge of the same the fluid, because of the weight being. concentrated upon a small area of the mattress, will merely distend. more completely the remoter portions of the mattress before the internal fluid 'pressure has reached the amount necessary to support the 'ioad, thus permitting the upper and lower surface of the loaded portion to come together and the resiliency of the mattress being thereby completely or partially lost.

when sittting upon the usual type of pneumatic mattress; to provide a construction which may be conveniently and economically manufactured and which shall be relatively simple to install and manipulate, while being rugged, durable, and eicient in use, and in general, to provide animproved composite `mattress of the character referred to.

In the drawings which accompany this applicationv and in which the invention is illustrated as applied to a mattress of full size,

Fig. 1 is aplan view of the complete mattress. Y

F Fig. 2 isa section taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and Y Fig. 4 is arperspective View of the tick portions and associated casings prior tothe insertion of the inner pneumatic filling.

Referring to the drawings, 10 represents the pneumatic filling which, in the present instance, comprises a pneumatic mattress contress there is an upper sheet 11 and a .lower sheet 12 of suitable fabric, the int-erior vrface of which is lined or coated with a rubber compound. These sheets are joined together at their outer edges 13 and 13 so as to seal the iunterior as a whole and also between the sides of the pneumatic unit, the sheets 1l and 12 are united together atintermediate points,

for example, 15, tol prevent the improper `bulging' ofthe unit and thereby maintain it for the border whichextends around the pneumat-1c unit and said border element also serves as a connector between the adjacent edges of lsaid tick parts.

The said border as to each side or end of the mattress comprises stuffed hollow casings which are made with duplex parts 22 and 23. Each of said duplex parts 22 or 23 is composed ofy an outer extension 24 of the main tick part 20 or 21 to which, at points 25 and 26 there is sewed an auxiliary casing element 27 of the necessary dimensions, so that when the upper auxiliary casing element 27 is united to the lower auxiliary casing element 28 by stitch lines 29 and d0, the pressure of the outer cell 31 of the pneumatic unit will fill the concavity in the border casing as' a whole and the outer face between stitch lines 25, 30, and 32, will be in a substantially straight line. In order still further to improve the appearance of the mattress, a line of roll edge stitching 33 may be employed.

The stufling material preferably consists of a good grade of mattress filling, for example, curled hair or cotton felt. It will be observed also that with the duplex construct-ion of tlie border casing that those portions 34 of the elements 27 and 28 which extend between the stitch lines 29 and 30, serve to tie in the edge of the mattress between its corners thereby to produce and maintain a neat vertical wall effect.

Two sides and the foot end 35 of the border casing are treated in the same manner as indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The head end of the border casing as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, is initially lleft open in order to permit insertion of the pneumatic unit before the latter isl inflated. After the deflated pneumatic unit is inserted through the o ening 3G, the operator sews up the duplex p ates 37 and 38 which have been previously fgrmed by lines of hemstitching 39 and 40, the final stitching being represented by the numeral 41. Since the mattress before inflation is much less bulky than subsequent thereto, it may be inserted in the casing through an opening which is considerably less than the full width of the mattress, as well shown in Fig. 4. After the stitch line 41 is nally completed, the mattress may be inflated through the valve 17.

It will be observed that if desired the inflation of the mattress may be postponed until the mattress is in the hands of the dealer purchaser, it being understood that, in common with mattresses of the pneumatic type, only suflicient air should be introduced to provide the necessary support. Care should be taken that the mattress is not inflated too hard, otherwise the pressure developed h Aload will be too great with the result that tie lack of supporting area may cause discomfort.

The described details of construction are illustrative of a singlev application only of the invention, the scope of which should be determined by the appended claims which` it is desired, should be construed irs-broadly as possible consistent with the state of theart.

lf claim :is my invention:

1. In a composite mattress,thecombination i ot' a mam body portion comprising a plu-v` rality of connected fiexible cellscontaining charges of fiuid distending said cells to sub stantially the desired thickness of the mattress as a whole, upper and lower ticks between which said fluid filledpart is interposed, and border portions disposed adjacent the edges of said main body portion and connected together by said ticks so as to be maintained in place adjacent said edges, said border portion comprising casings filled with resilient non-fluid material and having their inner faces shaped to lit the outer surfaces of the Huid filled portion and their outer faces shaped to provide substantially square edges for the mattress.

2. In a composite-mattress, thel combination of a main inner portion comprising a pair of impervious sheets united together at their edges and at intermediate points in their area, the space betwen the sheets -b'eing filled with fluid so as to distend the sheets to form cells, the outer edge portions ofsaid inner portion being substantially hemi spherical in cross section and the thickness of said inner portion being substantially equal to the desired thickness for the mattress as a whole, tick parts extending above and below the said inner fluid filled portion, and side casings connected together by said upper and' lower tick parts and also connecting *together the adjacent edges of the upper and lower tick parts, said casings having their inner faces of concave shape to fit the outer surfaces of the fluid filled mattress portion and being filled-.with resilient non-Huid material. 4

3. In a composite mattress, the combination of a main body portion composed of'a plurality' of communicating cells having a charge of fluid fordistending thelcells, a tick comprising top and bottom tick members between which said main body is interposed, and a border providing a substantially square edge appearance for the body, said border including marginal portions of said top and bottom tick members, and fabric strips se- `ion j izo cured to each of said tick members adjacent its edge and at a point spaced inwardly from said edge so as to form top and bottom tubular casings adjacent the edges of therespective tick members, a filler of resilient, nonfiuid material in said casings, and means uniting said casings together .intermediate `said ticks.'

4. In a composite mattress, the combination of a main body portion composed of a plurality of communicating cells having a charge of fluid for distending the cells, a tick comprising top and bottom tick members between which said main body is interposed, and a borderproviding a substantially square edge appearance for the body, said border including marginal portions of said top and bottom tick members, and fai-bric strips secured to each of said tick members adjacent its edge and at a point spaced inwardly from said edge so as to form top and bottom tubuin ar casings adjacent the edges of the respecnve tick members, a filler of resilient, nonfluid material' in said easings, and means formed integral with the top and bottom casing members for facilitating uniting or separation of a portion thereof, thereby facilitating insertion or removal of the main body into or from the tick.

WILLIAM A. WITHERS.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,730,752. Granted October 8, 1929, to

' WILLIAM A. WITHERS. l i

It is hereby certified that the above numbered patent was erroneously issued to "'Airubber Corporation, of'Chicago, Illinois, a Corporation of Illinois", whereas said patent should have been issued to "New York Rubber Corporation, 'of New York, N. Y.,'a Corporation of New York", said corporation being assignee by mesne assignments of the entire interest in said invention, as shown by the records of assignments in this office; and that the said Letters Patent should beread with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

.Signed and sealed'this 12th dayof November, A. D. 1929.

p i l. llloore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

